Traditionally celebrated as harbinger of prosperity, replenisher of rivers, canals and water sources, bringing relief from scorching summers and transforming arid lands into green acres, the Great Indian Monsoon is greeted with great joy countrywide. A good monsoon boosts agricultural production, reduces food inflation and energises the economy. However it also has a downside. It prompts floods, landslides, water-logged and potholed city streets, and is a season for numerous illnesses and malignant viruses that thrive and multiply in wet weather. This is the season when adults and children are struck down by monsoon-specific viral, water-borne and respiratory infections. In particular, with the monsoon rains coinciding with the start of the academic year (June-July), children are especially vulnerable to viruses that thrive in this season. Following this year’s bountiful monsoon, paediatricians and child specialists across the country are reporting a spike in the number of children diagnosed with respiratory illnesses, dengue and stomach infections. In our monsoon special cover story, we present advice from knowledgeable paediatricians, health and wellness experts on preventive measures parents need to take to protect children from monsoon afflictions such as cold and flu, dengue, malaria, typhoid, gastroenteritis and fungal infections. Moreover, the story also features a prescription of tried and tested home remedies from Dr. Ather Pasha, consultant, internal medicine, CARE Hospitals, Hyderabad. Inevitably, there’s much more in this parenting advice packed issue of PW. Check out the Middle Years story on the importance of children developing creative hobbies; Adolescence essay in which Delhi-based educator Priyanka Sethi shares money management nostrums for teenage children and Special Essay in which two Australia-based child psychologists discuss ways and means to develop healthy social media habits in children. Also recommended is the informative Health & Nutrition story in which Gurugram-based paediatric consultant Dr. Saurabh Khanna shares strategies to address common nutritional deficiencies in children.
